4 KEYS FINANCIAL LIMITED
Opportunity 76/100 (strong), bankability 70/100. High owner-dependency — earn-out structure likely required for clean transition. Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (73/100).
Data confidence
Overall: high (83/100)Strong data coverage across all sections. AI outputs should be trusted with minimal caveats.
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsHover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · FRS 102| Metric | 2025-04-30 | 2024-04-30 |
|---|
Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.
Recent activity
Corporate timeline (16 events)Click to expand
- 2025-06-24📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2025-06-04📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2025-06-04📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2024-11-19📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2024-05-08📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC01
- 2024-05-08📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC01
- 2024-05-08📄withdrawal-of-a-person-with-significant-control-statementpersons-with-significant-control · PSC09
- 2024-05-01📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2024-04-24➖HADLEY, James Anthony resigneddirector
- 2023-10-14📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2023-08-15📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2023-04-15🏢Company incorporatedAs 4 KEYS FINANCIAL LIMITED
- 2023-04-15➕BATE, Carl David appointeddirector
- 2023-04-15➕BATE, Lisa Ann appointeddirector
- 2023-04-15➕HADLEY, James Anthony appointeddirector
- 2023-04-15📄incorporation-companyincorporation · NEWINC
Owner dependency
Material founder dependency. Consider a 2-3 year earn-out and build in a handover plan before completion.
- +Two-director setup: Only two active directors — typical of owner-managed SMEs but limits succession.
- +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 59 — approaching natural succession window.
- +Family involvement: Multiple officers share a surname — likely family business, which concentrates governance.
Succession & seller-readiness
Some succession indicators present. Worth watching; approach if sector/strategy fits.
- secondaryFounder aged 58+: Senior director is approximately 59. Early succession window.
- secondaryTwo-director governance: Small-team governance. Succession depth is thin but not absent.
Red flags
cleanShareholders & ownership
2 active beneficial owners| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr Carl David Bate Individual · British · DOB 11/1967 · age 59 | 25–50% | 25–50% | 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting | 24/04/2024 |
Mrs Lisa Ann Bate Individual · British · DOB 06/1968 · age 58 | 25–50% | 25–50% | 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting | 24/04/2024 |
From Companies House Persons with Significant Control filings. Share ranges are banded per the public PSC regime.
Radial SVG graph showing every company connected via shared directors, colour-coded by status.
Available from the Pro tier upwards.
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7 specific questions generated from this company's actual signals — liquidity, leverage, director age, charge count, red flags, age-of-company.
Available from the Pro tier upwards.
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See pricing →Company details
Registered office
Filing status
Officers (2 active · 1 resigned)
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